Gifts for Gardeners

The Felco 2 is the Swiss-made pruner that many professional landscapers and public gardens use, and it's built to last for decades. Every part can be replaced, from the blade to the spring, so it can be repaired for life.

Worth knowing: It's sized for medium to large hands, and left-handed gardeners need the Felco 9. It's a splurge for someone who only trims a few plants.

These Fiskars pruners handle flowers, herbs and small branches, and the coated steel blade resists rust and sap. At this price, a gardener can keep a pair in the shed, the car and the kitchen drawer.

Worth knowing: They won't hold an edge as long as a Felco and can't be fully rebuilt. They're made for stems up to about finger thickness.

A hori hori is a Japanese garden knife with one serrated edge and one straight edge, and it does the work of a trowel, a weeder and a small saw. The stainless blade has depth markings for planting bulbs, and Nisaku's version is the one gardening writers mention most.

Worth knowing: The included sheath is basic, and some owners replace it. The blade is sharp, so store it out of reach of kids.

Radius tools use a curved, O-shaped handle that keeps the wrist in a more natural position while digging. Gardeners with hand pain often say it's the trowel they can use the longest.

Worth knowing: The handle shape takes some getting used to. Radius sells aluminum and stainless-steel versions at different prices, so check which one the listing shows.

These gloves have a thin, breathable bamboo knit with a textured rubber coating on the palm, so hands stay dry and fingers still have enough feel for small seeds and roots. They're machine-washable and come in sizes from small to XXL.

Worth knowing: They're thin and won't stop rose thorns or blackberry canes. Sizing matters, so check their hand size if you can.

Working Hands is a thick, unscented cream made for very dry, cracked skin, and it's a long-time favorite of people who work with their hands. A small amount covers both hands, so one jar lasts a long time.

Worth knowing: It's a plain, practical gift, so pair it with something else. It takes a minute to absorb.

Overwatering is one of the most common ways houseplants die, and this simple probe shows how wet the soil is at root level on a 1 to 10 dial. It needs no batteries, and the two-pack means one for indoors and one for the garden.

Worth knowing: Treat it as a rough guide. Readings are less reliable in very gritty or sandy mixes, such as cactus soil.

The rain wand puts out a soft, wide shower that won't wash soil out of pots or flatten seedlings, and the 30-inch reach gets to hanging baskets and the back of a bed. The thumb valve is easier on the hand than a squeeze trigger.

Worth knowing: This link is for the red wand; each color has its own listing. The valve can stiffen if it's left outside through freezing weather.

Tubtrugs are soft, flexible buckets with two handles that squeeze together so you can carry one with one hand. They don't crack in cold weather, and gardeners end up using them for everything from weeding to washing vegetables.

Worth knowing: The flexible sides sag a little when the tub is full of heavy soil. Some colors are hard to find on Amazon, but every color works the same.

Sloggers are rubber slip-on clogs made for muddy beds and wet grass, and they hose clean in seconds. They come in bright prints with a cushioned insole, and they're easy to step into by the back door.

Worth knowing: These are women's sizes, in whole sizes only; Sloggers also makes men's versions. They aren't insulated, so they're cold in winter.

Many seeds, especially peppers and tomatoes, sprout faster and more evenly with gentle heat from below. This mat fits a standard 1020 seed tray, and the thermostat holds a set temperature so seedlings don't overheat.

Worth knowing: It suits someone who already starts seeds or wants to begin. It works best alongside a grow light, which is sold separately.

Smith's book covers planning, soil, raised beds and growing details for dozens of crops, with clear photos throughout. It's a good winter read for mapping out next year's garden.

Worth knowing: The second edition dates from 2009, so it doesn't cover newer varieties. Experienced growers will know much of it already.